THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY

2008 CAMPAIGN

• One of the hardest fought campaigns in U.S. history• Democrats attacked the conduct of the war in Iraq • Republicans supported it

• Hillary Clinton was the early frontrunner because of her popularity with women

• Barack Obama became the nominee after the results of one of the closest primaries in history• Top student at Harvard Law School• Senator from Illinois• Publicly endorsed by Oprah Winfrey which helped with women

• Senator John McCain was a Republican candidate with a distinguished war record

2008 ELECTION

McCain Platform

• Claim to be an independent-minded Republican• Chose Sarah Palin to

sway women voters• Supporter of the war

in Iraq• Tax cuts for all

Americans

Obama Platform

• Criticized war in Iraq• Health care reform• Against tax cuts for

wealthy• No tax increase on

middle class• Promised eventual

citizenship rights to illegal aliens (immigrants)

Obama Campaign Ad

McCain Campaign Ad

Who do you vote forbased on the ads?

IMPACT OF THE 2008 ELECTION

• Obama was the 1st African American to be elected president• 135 years after the

Emancipation Proclamation and 45 years after “I Have a Dream” speech

• Longest and most costly campaign in U.S. history

• 1st time Internet was used to gain support and raise money for his campaign

BARACK OBAMA VIDEO

• Do you believe the election of Obama was a huge part of the Civil Rights Movement? Explain your reasoning.

RECESSION CRISIS

• President Obama wanted to prevent the a depression like the 1930s• Objective was to creating jobs, rebuilding roads, schools,

bridges, and tunnels• Proposed important changes to the nation’s health care

and educational systems

• Passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009• Over $700 billion was spent by government in a bailout

package to create and save jobs, start economic activity, and invest in American infrastructure

RECESSION CRISIS

• Other pieces of legislation included regulations to credit cards, lending and other banking practices• Had to follow new

guidelines to gain funds from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

• Saved the auto industry• Health Care Reform Act• Make health care more

available

SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS

• Sonia Sotomayor became the 1st Hispanic Supreme Court Justice• 3rd woman• Promoted from U.S. Court

of Appeals

• Elena Kagan was another woman elected to the Supreme Court• Former Harvard Law

School Dean

DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN

• In late April of 2011, Obama and his aides met to discuss top-secret information involving the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, • Al Qaeda leader who claimed credit for the September 11, 2001, terrorist

attacks on the United States.

• Secret surveillance suggested that bin Laden and his family were housed in a compound near Islamabad, Pakistan.

• Obama discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a raid on the compound with his aides and ultimately decided to issue the go-ahead to a U.S. Navy SEALs team to get bin Laden.

• On Sunday, May 1, President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and other top officials met in the Situation Room to watch in real time as the operation convened.

• After about 40 minutes, Obama and his team had confirmation that Osama bin Laden was dead.

SEAL TEAM SIX

• Explain how did the training the Seal Team Six received benefited them in killing Osama Bin Laden?

FOREIGN POLICY

• Obama has tried to use moral leadership and work closely with allies.• Many threats to American security

• June 22, 2011, Obama announced in a televised address to the nation that he would begin to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. • He stated that troop withdrawals would continue

until 2014, with the forces that remain there transitioning

FOREIGN POLICY

• Used force to discourage dictators from suppressing democracy movements• In Tunisia, Yemen, Syria,

and Egypt

• In Libya he authorized airstrikes to defend the rebels• Led to the Gaddafi’s

death

FOREIGN POLICY

• Obama is seeking to work with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace• Iran has been placed

on economic & political sanctions because they support terrorist groups• Threaten Israel’s

existence

ELECTION OF 2012

• Obama enjoyed popularity as the incumbent candidate leading up to the November 2012 presidential election. • Although the economy was an issue on many

American minds, polls in summer 2012 already showed Obama with a lead over Mitt Romney, • Republican Party's choice to serve as presidential

candidate.

• Polls of potential voters indicated a close race between the two candidates• Obama won the election

Obama Campaign Ad

Romney Campaign Ad

Who do you vote for

based on the ads?

ELECTION OF 2012

• Obama still faced economic woes for his country, and a lack of unity between Democrats and Republicans.

• Celebrations would certainly be smaller given the state of economic and emotional strain on the American people.

• His themes in his speech--democracy, equality, unity--were an appropriate tribute to Dr. King and his legacy. Obama emphasized government's role in society; he called for better education, an improved infrastructure, and the protection of social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.